Hinge construction for boxes



July 4, 1967 J. s. FIORE, JR 3,328,831

HINGE CONSTRUCTION FOR BOXES Filed Oct. 21, 1965 F IGJ 26A 34 INVENTOR.

John S Fiore Jr 27/ 28A l 32 BY 412 s MM- ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,328,831 HINGE CONSTRUCTION FOR BOXES John S. Fiore, Jr., 989 Johnston Drive, Watchung, NJ. 07060 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,432 2 Claims. (Cl. 16-128) This invention relates to molded plastic boxes and a novel hinge construction for interengaging a pair of box sections forming the box.

Boxes for small items including pills, jewelry, etc. have been made by molding from synthetic plastic, similar box sections, wherein each section includes integral hinge portions which are adapted to be snapped into engagement, thereby hinging the box sections. Such hinge portions comprise a pair of closely spaced bosses of spherical contour and a single lug longitudinally displaced from the pair of bosses and having arcuate grooves formed on opposite sides thereof.

Such box sections are arranged so that the single lug of one box section can be received between the pair of bosses of the other box section, the spherical surface portions of the bosses being received in the arcuate grooves of the single lug.

Such hinge construction, as well as variants thereof have been found to be a somewhat non-uniform in respect to maintaining their hinged relation. A substantial proportion of a given number of such boxes will have a tendency to involuntarily disengage the hinged sections, thus adversely affecting box filling operations as well as actual use of the box.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a box having an improved hinge construction which tends to resist unhinging forces and maintains the hinged relation of the box sections during filling operations and in actual use of the box.

Another object of this invention is to provide in molded plastic boxes of the type comprising similar box section having integral hinging portions wherein the hinging portion on each box section comprises a pair of closely spaced hinge members and a single hinge member longitudinally displaced from the pair of hinge members, the box sections being related so that the single hinge member on each box section interfits between the pair of members on the other box section; and each single hinge member being grooved on opposite sides thereof, one of the grooved portions having planar surface portions to 'engage arcuate surface portions on the pair of hinged members.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a single box section embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of a box having hinged sections in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the novel hinge portion of said box;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a modified form of the invention.

Essentially, the hinged box construction of the instant invention comprises a pair of similar, molded plastic box sections, each section having along one edge thereof a pair of hinge forming bosses of spherical shape and a single lug longitudinally displaced from the pair of bosses. Thus, the box sections are hinged together by snapping each of the lugs between the pair of opposed bosses; the sections being suitably disposed relative to each other to bring each lug in opposed relation to a pair of bosses.

3,328,831 Patented July 4, 1967 The single lug on each section is formed with oppositely disposed grooves, one of said grooves being of arcuate section while the other groove is a recess having planar surface portions.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the box 10 of the instant invention, comprises substantially similar, molded box sections 11, 12; the same being formed of polyvinyl, poly styrene, polyethylene, or other suitable synthetic resin. Box section 11 comprises end walls 13, front wall 14 and back wall 15. Correspondingly, box section 12 comprises and walls 13A, front wall 14A and back wall 15A. The box sections 11, 12 are hinged together by hinge means generally indicated at 17 and located along edges 18, 18A of the back walls 15, 15A respectively.

The box section 11 further includes a bottom wall 16 while box section 12 has a top wall 16A. The box sections 11, 12 are held in a closed condition by conventional latch means along forward edges thereof, such latch means comprising a lateral projection 20 carrying a short pin portion 21 and a pair of keeper forming projections 22 adjacent projection 20; the latch meansbeing so arranged that the pin portion 21 on box section 12 extends toward box section 11 and frictionally engages keeper 22 thereon; while pin portion 21 on box section 11 extends toward box section 12 and engages keeper 22 thereon. The pin portions 21 are suitably angled to maintain a frictional engagement with keeper 22, yet permitting the box sections to be opened on their hinge portion 17.

The hinge means 17 is similar on each of box sections 11, 12. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, box section 12 has integrally molded on the back wall 15 adjacent edge 18 thereof, a pair of projections 23 which may be of substantially triangular shape and carry ball shaped bosses 24 in opposed, spaced relation to each other. Also, in longitudinally displaced relation to bosses 24, a projection 25 carries a single lug 26.

Lug 26 is formed on one side thereof with a groove 27 of arcuate cross section, while the opposite side thereof is formed with a groove 28 which comprises a pair of planar flat surface portions 29, 30 in diverging relation from a midpoint 31. Grooves 27 extend across one end face of lugs 26 while grooves 28 are in the form of a depression in the opposite end face as illustrated in the drawing.

It will be apparent, that when box sections 11, 12 are arranged so that the lug 26 on box section 12 can be interposed between bosses 24 on box section 11 while lug 26 on box section 11 can be interposed between bosses 24 on box section 12, the box sections 11, 12 are brought into hinged relation. The elasticity of the projections 23 allows sufficient spread of opposed bosses 24 to receive the lug 26 therebetween.

It has been found that the planar flat surface portions on lugs 26 tends to maintain the engagement of the hinged parts and makes the same highly resistant to forces which would be sufficient to unhinge conventional hinged box constructions.

In a modified form of the invention, lug 26A is similar to lug 26, exceptthat groove 28A comprises a single planar surface portion 32 which extends toward the opposite ends oflug 26A and terminating just short of the outer end 33 of lug 26. In this case, boss 24 rides over the slight projection 34 when the box sections are snapped together in assembly, and engages surface portion 32.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the herein disclosed invention without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not by way of limitation except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a molded plastic box having a pair of box sections, each box section having integrally molded hinge portions extending from an edge portion thereof, said hinge portions comprising a single member projecting from one edge of a box section and a pair of laterally adjacent members projecting from said one edge of said box section and longitudinally displaced relative to said single member, said box sections being arranged in hinging relation with the single member of one box section adapted to be received between the pair of members of the other box section, each of said pair of members being substantially ball shaped, each single member being formed with recess portions in opposite sides thereof to receive therein the ball shaped portions of said pairs of members, the recess portion in one side of said single member comprising a groove extending across the said one side of said single member and the recess portion in the opposite side of said single member comprising dihedrally related surfaces extending in the same direction as the groove in the said one side.

2. In a molded plastic box having a pair of box sections, each box section having integrally molded hinge portions extending from an edge portion thereof, said hinge portions comprising a single member projecting from one edge of a box section and a pair of laterally adjacent members projecting from said one edge of said box section and longitudinally displaced relative to said single member, said box sections being arranged in hinging relation with the single member of one box section adapted to be received between the pair of members of the other box section, each of said pair of members being substantially ball shaped, each single member being formed with recess portions in opposite sides thereof to receive therein the ball shaped portions of said pairs of members, the recess portion in one side of said single member comprising a groove extending across the said one side of said single member and the recess portion in the opposite side of said single member comprising dihedrally related surfaces extending in the same direction as the groove in the said one side, a fiat surface form ing the bottom of a groove extending at right angles to the groove in the said one side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,036 5/1900 Corbin et al. 16136 2,671,379 3/1954 Eloranta 16128 2,910,260 10/1959 Tanner 287--87 3,074,475 1/ 1963 McPhaden 16--128 3,077,282 2/1963 Eggers 16128 3,243,838 4/1966 Blumberg 16128 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MOLDED PLASTIC BOX HAVING A PAIR OF BOX SECTIONS, EACH BOX SECTION HAVING INTEGRALLY MOLDED HINGE PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM AN EDGE PORTION THEREOF, SAID HINGE PORTIONS COMPRISING A SINGLE MEMBER PROJECTING FROM ONE EDGE OF A BOX SECTION AND A PAIR OF LATERALLY ADJACENT MEMBERS PROJECTING FROM SAID ONE EDGE OF SAID BOX SECTION AND LONGITUDINALLY DISPLACED RELATIVE TO SAID SINGLE MEMBER, SAID BOX SECTIONS BEING ARRANGED IN HINGING RELATION WITH THE SINGLE MEMBER OF ONE BOX SECTION ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED BETWEEN THE PAIR OF MEMBERS OF THE OTHER BOX SECTION, EACH OF SAID PAIR OF MEMBER BEING SUBSTAN- 